Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Double agent ‘involved’ in smuggling Shamima Begum into Syria may get political asylum in Canada

Mohammed al-Rashed was released from Turkish jail on August 5

Double agent ‘involved’ in smuggling Shamima Begum into Syria may get political asylum in Canada

A double agent believed to be involved in the trafficking of Shamima Begum and two other British teenage schoolgirls into Syria is likely to be granted political asylum in Canada following his release from Turkish jail on August 5, media reports said.

Mohammed al-Rashed, recruited by Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) in 2013, was arrested two years later over terrorism charges.

As he had been promised asylum in Canada, the spy agency was planning to relocate him, reports said.

According to a Telegraph report, Turkey is against al-Rashed’s continued presence in the country but deporting him to Syria could potentially expose him to death at the hands of the Islamic State seeking to avenge his betrayal or the Syrian regime because of his links to the terrorist organisation.

Richard Kerbaj’s book titled The Secret History of the Five Eyes said the CSIS had recruited al-Rashed as a double agent when he visited Canada's embassy in Jordan asking for asylum.

However, his cover was blown when Turkish authorities arrested him and travel documents, including bus tickets, belonging to Begum and her friends were found with him.

The book claimed Canada only privately admitted its involvement with al-Rashed and asked Britain to help cover it up.

After his alleged involvement in the smuggling of the girls surfaced last month, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau vowed to investigate the allegations.

However, Trudeau defended the need for intelligence services to be "flexible and creative in their approaches” for the safety of Canada "in a very dangerous world."

At the same time, he said spy agencies were expected to follow rules.

"We expect those rules to be followed," the prime minister said as he promised to follow up on the “questions about certain incidents or operations of the past".

Any confirmation of al-Rashed’s asylum could escalate tensions between the intelligence agencies of Canada and the UK, The Telegraph reported.

Government sources have indicated to the newspaper that they would resist Begum’s fresh legal attempts to reverse the revocation of her British citizenship.

More For You

Fathers over 60 help 'reverse UK birthrate decline'

Photo for representation (Photo: iStock)

Fathers over 60 help 'reverse UK birthrate decline'

THE UK has recorded its first increase in births since 2021, with a notable rise in babies born to fathers over 60 helping to lift the numbers, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

In 2024, there were 594,677 live births in England and Wales, up 0.6 per cent from the previous year. While this is a modest increase, it marks a change after several years of decline.

Keep ReadingShow less
Quad-leaders

The foreign ministers of the Quad — India, the US, Australia and Japan — met in Washington DC on Tuesday to outline priorities for the bloc’s annual summit to be held in India later this year. (Photo credit: X/@DrSJaishankar)

X/@DrSJaishankar

Quad condemns Pahalgam attack, flags China’s actions and Myanmar crisis

THE QUAD grouping has called for the perpetrators, organisers and financiers of the Pahalgam terror attack to be brought to justice without delay. The group also urged all UN member states to cooperate in the process.

The foreign ministers of the Quad — India, the US, Australia and Japan — met in Washington DC on Tuesday to outline priorities for the bloc’s annual summit to be held in India later this year.

Keep ReadingShow less
'Preventable' grid failure caused Heathrow fire, says report

FILE PHOTO: Airplanes remain parked on the tarmac at Heathrow International. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso

'Preventable' grid failure caused Heathrow fire, says report

A FIRE that shut London's Heathrow airport in March, stranding thousands of people, was caused by the UK power grid's failure to maintain an electricity substation, an official report said on Wednesday (2), prompting the energy watchdog to open a probe.

The closure of Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, cost airlines tens of millions of pounds. It also raised questions about the resilience of Britain's infrastructure.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tributes paid to Asian mum who died in Leicester attack

Leicestershire Police

Tributes paid to Asian mum who died in Leicester attack

TRIBUTES have poured in for a 'kind-hearted' mother who tragically lost her life last week after being attacked in Leicester.

Nila Patel, 56, a British Indian woman described as a "beautiful, vibrant soul," died in hospital two days after suffering a head injury during an assault on Aylestone Road.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pakistan IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington. (Photo: Reuters)

Reuters

Sri Lanka to receive USD 350 million as IMF completes fourth review

THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) has completed the fourth review of Sri Lanka’s USD 2.9 billion bailout programme, allowing the country to access the next tranche of USD 350 million from the four-year facility.

The IMF had approved the nearly USD 3 billion bailout in March 2023 to support Sri Lanka’s efforts to restore macroeconomic stability, including fiscal and debt sustainability, during an unprecedented economic crisis.

Keep ReadingShow less